An-70 production likely delayed over shift to Kazan

An-70 aircraft will be assembled by Russia’s Kazan Aircraft Factory alone instead of dual-assembly in both Ukraine and Russia, Kommersant wrote today, citing an Antonov top manager. The Antonov Plant is currently in the process of making two An-70s due for delivery to the Russian Defense Ministry in 2013.

Roman Dmytrenko: Shifting An-70 assembly to Russia exclusively is negative in terms of orders in the next few years for engine supplier Motor Sich (MSICH UK). Unlike the Antonov Plant, the Kazan Aircraft Factory has no existing production facilities to assemble An-70s and will require additional investments before serial production can begin. Thus, this shift to Kazan is certain to create unavoidable delays in the start of An-70 serial production, which was initially scheduled for 2013.